STREAMS APPARENTLY BARREN 215 



secured by wading. It is necessary to wade in 

 some rivers, but where the water is not broken by 

 rocks, etc., I think the practice of wading is by no 

 means conducive to the interests of the stream, 

 and should, therefore, be avoided as much as 

 possible. Standing in the water close under the 

 near bank is not so objectionable, and very 

 frequently enables the fisherman to use his rod to 

 better advantage than would be the case if he 

 were fishing from the bank. He must, of course, 

 be guided by circumstances, and use his own 

 discretion ; but I would urge upon him never to 

 disturb a stream unnecessarily, not only for his 

 own sake, but also for that of others. A duffer 

 will do more harm to a good river in a week 

 than ten good fishermen in as many years. 



I would impress upon a novice that, no matter 

 how destitute of fish a river may seem to him to 

 be, there are always some fish in it, and a great 

 many more than he would believe to be possible. 

 I have often and often fished in rivers which I 

 knew to be well stocked, and yet for days, in 

 unfavourable weather, have not seen a single fish. 

 It may be asked, 'Where do they go to?' I 

 can't say ; they get anywhere, everywhere, out of 

 sight sulk in shoals at the bottom of the deep 

 pools, under the stones, banks, weeds, trunks of 

 trees, wherever they can hide themselves ; and if 

 they do come out to feed, it is at night, when it is 



